Improved life-boat



UNITED STATES `PATENT GFFICE.

A. L. sHEARs, oF FLINT, MreHIGAN, AssIGNon 'ro HIMsELF AND H. T.

WooDMAN, oF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

IMPROVED LIFE-BOAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,197, dated August 1, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, A. L. SHEARs, of Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented anew and useful Improvementin LifeBoats; and Ido herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which, will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanyingdrawin gs, forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates, first, in forining upon the inner sides of the hull of a boat, one or more water-scuppers, communicating at their upper ends with the inner portion of the boat, and at theirlow er ends with the water in which the boat is placed, whereby when the water dashes or flows over the sides of the boat it will immediatelypass outof the same through the scuppers Without the necessity of bailing, the side pieces forming the said scuppers bracin gand strengthening the hull; second, in forming air-chambers under the thwarts of the boat, extending up its sides as high at the gunwales, if so desired, or at least sufficiently high to prevent the boat from sinking so far in the Water as not to let the Water 'escape therefrom through its scuppers when itis overiiowed, as described, the said chambers also giving room for storage of provisions, clothing, &c., and, in case of necessity, giving shelter to the occupants of the boat from the storm, &c., as Well as affording a convenient place for sleeping, entrance being had to the same by raising the seats of the boat, which are so arranged as to admit of the same, and can be closed with sufficient ti ghtnessto prevent the en trance of water th erein, and fresh air being fed to the same through any suitable arrangement of air-pipes communicating therewith and with the external air 5 third, in placing at or near the center of the boat a water-tank in which water is inserted to be used for drinking purposes, it serving also as ballast for the boat, to balance it.

In accompanying plate of drawings my im provements are represented, Figure 1 being a longitudinal vertical section through thecen- -ter of the boat; Fig. 2 a partial plan or top view of a portion of the same; and Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section in plane of line w x, Fig. 1.

a e represent the-outside of the boat; b, its

hull; c, keel, and d-gunwales; ff, deck of boat, provided with seats or thwarts g ggg,

at proper 'distances apart; h, rail extending around the gunwales ofthe boat, supported at intermediate points by stanchions Z l, Ste.

m m, &c., represent a series of water-souppers upon each side ofthe boat, extending along and down the inside ofthe hull, formed by side and top pieces, n fn. and o, which serve also as braces for strengthening the boat. The scuppers are open at their lower ends, p p, communicating with the water surrounding the boat, and at their upper ends, q q, with the space 1^ of the boat above its deck, and have slides ss for opening or closingthe same at pleasure. The seats g g g are each hinged on one side, as seen at t t in Fig. 1, and have hooks u u, &c., and fixed staples fw w, &e., for fastening the same when desired. By raising the seats communication is had With the interior airchambers, yy, under the deck, and which may extendup the sides of the boat, either to the gunwales dd, or sufficiently to keep the boat in such a position when in the Water that the up per openings of the water-scuppers shall be above the level of the water. In the air-chambers y y provisions, clothing, te., may be stowed away in its compartments z z, &c., and in storms the occupants of the boat can` retire there for shelter, as Well also for sleep, fresh air being allowed to enter the same by means of any proper-arranged air-tubes connected with them and communicating With the external air.

`a a' represent a water-tank placed at or near the center of the boat for holding fresh Water to be used for drinking purposes,provided with a slide, b', for opening or closing the same at pleasure. This water-tank, when filled, also serves as a ballast for the boat-to balance and to steady it. In case of a heavy sea causing` the waves to dash over the sides of the boat, iillin g it with water, it immediately flows out of the same through the water-scuppers, ar-` ranged as above-described, Without the necessity of hailing, the advantages of which are evident, the seats being made'Water-tight at their joints, so as to prevent the entrance of Water to the air-chambers belowthe deck, and having suitable devices upon the inside thereof, that they can be also made watertight from the inside of the chambers.

By forming the interior of the boat with airtight compartments, as described, itis evident that it cannot possibly be swamped, as they impart sufcient buoyancy to it to entirely prevent it; and also that its strength or stiffness is not in the least impaired thereby.

Bulls-eyes or other proper glasses can beinserted in any suitable positions in the deck to impart light to tbe interior air-chambers, and suitable sockets can also be made at the proper points in the boat for the in sertion of masts, when desired, they being made in sections and stowed away in the air-chambers of the boat when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new' and desire to secure by Letters atent-n The general arrangement of the boat herein described, the same oonsistin g ot' the air-chambers or spaces for storage ot' provisions, Sto., Water-scuppers, and thWarts susceptible of being raised or lowered at pleasure, for com1nunication With the air-chambers of the boat, arranged togetber and operating substantially in the manner and for the`purpose specified.

The above specification ot' my invention signed by me this 15th day of March, 1865. A. L. SHEARS. Witnesses: M'. I. PUTNAM,

L. G. BIoKronD. 

